HARNESSING MICROBIAL VECTORS: ADVANCES IN BACTERIA- MEDIATED DRUG DELIVERY

Bacteria-mediated drug delivery systems are an emerging frontier in biomedical research, offering a novel method for precise and efficient therapeutic delivery, especially in oncology. These systems exploit the natural motility, chemotaxis, and tumor-targeting abilities of certain bacterial strains—such as Salmonella, Clostridium, and Escherichia coli—which preferentially accumulate in hypoxic and necrotic regions of tumors. By genetically engineering these bacteria or using their derivatives like outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), scientists can load them with anticancer agents, immunomodulators, or gene-editing tools. Once inside the tumor microenvironment, the bacteria can release their payload in response to specific stimuli, such as pH changes or enzymatic activity, ensuring localized treatment and minimizing systemic toxicity. Additionally, some bacteria can stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses, enhancing the therapeutic effect through immunogenic synergy. Despite their promise, challenges remain in ensuring biosafety, controlling bacterial replication, and achieving regulatory approval for clinical use. Nonetheless, this approach holds transformative potential for targeted therapies in hard-to-treat cancers and other localized diseases.